The risk to endangered and threatened species of animals, birds, fish, and plants from large-scale solar projects is very real.
Consider: to construct a 1,000-acre solar project, for example, the vast majority of land in that project must first have every tree and bush removed, then be bulldozed to re-grade and level out the terrain, destroying the habitats of not just animals but smaller birds, insects, and wildlife that lived on that property.
This re-grading destroys the small streams and creeks that crisscrossed the land, raising the likelihood of flooding and erosion affecting neighboring properties and river basins, as has happened in every large-scale solar project in Virginia to date.
It’s worth considering the environmental impact and potential damage for any large, utility-scale solar project being proposed for Virginia’s counties before approving them.